 
Photo © 2017 Regina Roach.
~ FORTIETH ANNUAL ~
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Previous Speakers
The symposium has been honored to welcome many distinguished speakers over the years. You can browse past guest speakers here.
2026: 40 Years — Celebrating the Ever-Changing Garden
Bryce Lane
Preston Montague
Rebecca Sweet
Bobby Mottern
2025: Through the Looking Glass: Discovering the Unusual, Unfamiliar, and Unexpected
Amy Hovis
Hans Hesselein
Margie Grace
Sam Hoadley
2024: Meeting the Challenge: Gardening for a Greener Future
Kelly Norris
Nancy Lawson
Carol Reese
Tony Avent
2023: Dimensions of a Garden: An Exploration of Styles and Purposes
Richard Bisgrove
Edwina von Gal
Dr. John M. Dole
Marianne Willburn
2020: Gardening For The Future
Emily McCoy
Dr. Michael Raupp
Dr Linda Chalker Scott
Laurie Reid Dukes
2019: Innovative Approaches to Gardening
Thomas Woltz
Claudia West
Tradd Cotter
Brie Arthur
2018: Inspiration to Reality
Kerry Mendez
William Reiley
Troy Scott Smith
Ted Stevens
2017: What’s in YOUR Garden?
Nigel Dunnett
Jan Johnsen
Thomas Rainer
Doug Tallamy
Helen Yoest
2016: Big Ideas for Small Gardens
Jon Carloftis
Mary Palmer Dargan
Fergus Garrett
Susan Morrison
Rita Randolph
2015: Planting Outside the Lines
Colston Burrell
Sandra Clinton
Evelyn Hadden
Carol Reese
Margie Ruddick
2014: It’s All About the Plants
Tony Avent
Kirk Brown
David Culp
Paula Gross
Holly Shimizu
2013: Beyond the Garden Gate: Exploring Creative Spaces
Nan Chase
Noel Kingsbury
Tovah Martin
Julie Moir Messervy
Holly Scoggins
2012: The Roots of Passion: The Inspired Gardener
Sean Hogan
Andrea Wulf
David Howard
Tiz Johnston
Larry Mellichamp
Andrea Sprott
Bill Thomas
2011: Exploring Possibilities:Â Rediscovering Home
Chip Calloway
David C. Creech
Erica Glasener
Darrel Morrison
Barbara Pleasant
2010: Through the Seasons:Â A Southern Garden’s Journey
Allen Armitage
Pam Baggett
Robin Ripley
Gary W. Smith
William Welch
2009: Gardens for Our Time
Charles Birnbaum
Mark Weathington
Don Boekelheide
Don Booth
Bruce Clodfelter
Nigel Dunnett
Ellen Kirby
2008: Herbaceous Havens: Creating Garden Sanctuaries
Stephanie Cohen
Tracy DiSaboto-Aust
Tom Goforth
John Hoffman
Mary Stauble
2007: Green Challenges: Gardening in Unexpected Places
Jon Calabria
Randy Clark
Anna Haven Kiers
Felder Rushing
Roger Turner
2006: The Evolving Garden: Reflections on the Garden and It’s Afterlife
Steve Bender
John Dixon Hunt
Pat Linton
Anna Pavord
Tom Petherick
2005: Fresh Perspective on Gardens
Michael Balogh
Jenks Farmer
Penelope Hobhouse
David McMullin
Scott Ogden
Lauren Springer Ogden
2004: Inside Out: Inspired Spaces For Outside Living
Ken Druse
Julie Moir Messervy
Doug Ruhren
Mary Walton Upchurch
2003: Plants in the Company of People
Rick Darke
D.G. Martin
Anne Raver
Vincent Simeone
Arthur Tucker
Larry Weaner
2002: Order and Chaos in the Garden
Edith Eddelman
Stephen Lacey
Ben Page
Mike Shoup
2001: Artists in the Garden: The Interaction of Nature and Art
Jenks Farmer
Peter Loewer
Bob Lyons
Elizabeth Murray
Elsie Dinsmore Popkin
2000: Reflections and Visions: Past Symposium Favorites and New Voices for the Next Century
Henry Arnold
A.E. Bye
Denise Greene
Pamela Harper
Stephen Lederach
1999: Personal Edens: Creating Unique Spaces in Southern Gardens
Kurt Bluemel
Peggy Cornett
Julie Moir Messervy
Renee Shepherd
Kim E. Tripp
Craig Tufts
1998: Pushing the Boundaries
Colston Burrell
Elliot Coleman
Barbara Damrosch
Steven Frowine
Klause Jelitto
1997: Gardens By Design
Richard Bir
Veronica Westendorff
Gwen Machon Cook
Wayne Winterrowd
August DeHertogh
Edd Evans
Judith Jones
Fred Spicer
1996: Secrets of Good Gardens
Cyane Gresham
Sarah Stone
Dan Hinkley
Norman Kent Johnson
Ted Kipping
Mark Peters
Marco Polo Stephano
1995: The Lure of the Garden
Pamela Harper
Lucinda Mays
Robin Moore
Eric Ritchie
Felder Rushing
Holly Shimizu
1994: Public Gardens, Private Gains
Walter Chandoha
Kris Jarantoski
Bill Moye
J.C. Raulston
Geoffrey Rausch
Judith Zuk
1993: The Shape of Things to Come
John Elsley
Pat Stone
John Graham
Tracy Traer
John Holmes
Tim Turton
Carol Johnson
Greg Lowery
Larry Mellichamp
1992: The Common Bond: Back to Roots
Tony Avent
Claire Sawyers
Richard Bir
Peter Schaudt
Allen Bush
Rick Darke
Michael Dirr
Lislott Harberts
1991: Hand in Hand with Nature
Bonnie Lee Appleton
J.C. Raulston
Allen Armitage
Derek Fell
Sandra Ladendorf
Peter Loewer
Shepherd Ogden
1990: A Sense of Place
Henry Arnold
Denis Wood
Neil Diboll
Al Gentry
Tom Hatley
Sheafe Satterthwaite
Richard Weaver
1989: From Jungles to Freeways
Marc H. Cathey
Angela Danadjieva
Brent Heath
Stephen Lacey
Christopher Lloyd
J.C. Raulston
1988: Secrets of Site Design
Joseph Hudak
Allen Lacey
Bryce Lane
Ted Osmandson
Hans Simon
Gurdon Tarbok Jr
1987
John Creech
John Elsley
Dan Kiley
Anthony Paul
J.C. Raulston
1986
William Flemer III
William Lanier Hunt
Robert McCartney
Harry Phillips
William Valvanis
Michael VanValkenburgh
1985
A.E. Bye
Fred Galle
William Lanier Hunt
Ken Moore
Harry Phillips
Jim Wilson
